Tricks and traps for the mind and intellectual property

September 25, 2006

Let's Not Get Away From The Power Of The Boob Factor

The SMH has a story about the fact that girls who quit school early have a harder time getting a job than boys who leave school early -- although girls are more likely to stay in school and complete year 12.
"She cited research that found that only one in 10 males who left school after completing year 12 were unemployed seven years later. Yet one in five boys who left school before completing year 10 were unemployed...For girls, the contrast between those who completed school and those who left early was even more severe. Seven years after year 12, three out of five girls who left before finishing year 10 were out of the labour market, compared with only 7 per cent for 100 girls who had completed year 12."
Boys are more likely to get apprenticeships, and it's often the case that people apply for apprenticeships and only leave school if they get them. But the general message? STAY IN SCHOOL. Unless you have a plan, like becoming a professional gamer...
Which brings us neatly around to this Reuters article, about girls who are professional gamers. One point is to challenge the stereotype that women don't play hardcore games (apparently 20% of hardcore gamers are female, so if you're in World of Warcraft with four other players and they're all male, check your nether regions).
"At the same time, however, the Frag Dolls have been criticized by some in the industry for reinforcing sexual stereotypes because their members are all young and pretty...But Romine and others said those criticisms simply reinforce the prevailing notion that women who play video games can't be feminine... "People have a stereotype that gamers in general are ugly and huge and have glasses. It's not how it is anymore," said Louise Thomsen, 26, a member of the Scandinavian team Les Seules. Her game handle is AurorA..."Let's not get away from the power of the boob factor," said Dalton."